Influence of adjuvant therapy with green tea extract in the treatment of experimental periodontitis.

AIM: This study evaluated the effects of topical green tea extract solution (GTE) as adjuvant therapy to mechanical debridement for the treatment of experimental periodontitis (EP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used 120 male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus - Wistar), divided into the following four groups: NEP (sham) (n = 30): no experimental periodontitis (NEP), only simulation of EP by installation and removal of a ligature; EP (n = 30): EP induction by ligature; SRP (n = 30): EP, scaling and root planing (SRP), and irrigation with physiological saline solution; SRP/GT (n = 30): EP, SRP, and irrigation with GTE. Histologic analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed for detection of interleukin (IL)1ss, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-10, and anti-tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in the furcation area. The percentage of bone in the furcation (PBF) was considered the primary variable and evaluated at 14, 22, and 37 days. The data from the histological analysis and the IL- 1B, TNF- A, and IL-10 were submitted to a Kruskal-Wallis variance test and Dunn's posttest (p </= 0.05). The histometric data and TRAP were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's posttest (p </= 0.05). RESULTS: The SRP/GT group showed lower inflammatory process, lower immunolabeling pattern of IL-1ss and TNF-alpha, and greater immunolabeling pattern of IL-10 compared with the EP and SRP groups at 22 days. Fewer TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts were observed in all periods in the SRP/GT group (5.22 +/- 0.65; 7.33 +/- 0.80; 8.55 +/- 1.15) compared with the SRP group (30.67 +/- 8.55; 13.22 +/- 0.77; 13.87 +/- 0.77). Higher PBF was observed in all periods in the SRP/GT group (74.65 +/- 7.14; 76.61 +/- 5.36; 79.24 +/- 3.75) compared with the SRP group (61.60 +/- 9.48; 54.84 +/- 9.06; 53.25 +/- 9.66). CONCLUSION: GTE adjuvant to SRP reduced inflammation, osteoclastic activity, and alveolar bone loss in EP.